Station for pneumatic-dispatch systems



Feb. 2l, 1928.

J. T. COWLEY vSTATION Fon PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed June 2, 1926'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21, 1928.

J. T. cowLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS l'f sheets-sheet 2Filed June 2, 1926 Feb. 21, 1928.

1,660,293 J. T. cowLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed June2. 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. T. COWLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCHSYSTEMS Flled June 2, 1926 /U'e/O?" JQW .5' T C@ Eyw Feb. 2l, 1928.

7 Sheets-She t 5 J. T. COWLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMSFiled June 2. 1926 FebQZl, 1928.

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J. T. COWLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed June 2, 1926 7Sheds-Sheet 6 I 7 'LU 6A Tir C) 2 1. ws T owle l ll Y n NN www u,

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Feb. 2l, 1928.

.1.1'. cowLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIG DISPATCH SYSTEMS Patented Feb. 21,1928.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT o-FFICE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY,

OF SYRAGUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0IMASSACHUSETTS.

STATION FOR PNEUMATICI-DISPATCH SYSTEMS.

Application' led June'2, 1926. SeraI No. 113,194..y

This invention relates to carrier dispatch systems and more particularlyprovides a convenient receiving and sending station for the same. i i

In conveyors or conveying apparatus of the prior art, it is customary toemploy closed tubes through which carriers are impelled by differentialair pressure. Such constructions as have been heretofore. em-

ployed for this purpose usually involve special apparatus and require a.special location and considerable space for the sending and receivingstations.

It is an object of the present invention so to combine the sending andreceiving apparatus, that al single station may comprise bot-h units andbe installed in a piece of usual otiice furniture. It is a furtherobject to provide a delivery station or carrier outlet which shall beadapted automatically yto receive one or more carriers without requiringthe attention of an operator and without conflicting with yorinterrupting the continued operation of the system as a whole. Otherobjects of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

Generica-lly, the invention includes means for conveying carriers andthe like, as forv example through a predetermined path or system definedby closed tubes, provided with suitably disposed outlet means for thedelivery of a carrier or carriers from the path of the conveyor andfurther provides means for enclosing t-he outlet from the .conveyor andmeans permitting the withdrawal of the carrier from the enclosing means,characterized by preserving the continued operation of the conveyingapparatus during and after the ejection and removal of a carrier,substantially without interruption.

More specifically the herein disclosed embodiments of the invention eachincludes a closed pneumatic dispatch system through which carriers maybe impelled by a positive air pressure or drawn forward by suction (orboth) and an outletfor such carriers suitably positioned and arranged topermit or cause the ejection of a carrier at a yde-V sired point andmeans such as an air-tight carrier receptacle or chamber enclosing theoutlet and which prevents loss of air pressure or suction in the carriertube, after the ejection of a carrier from the latter, therebyapplicable for the to maintain continued operation of the system. Meansalso are provided for releasing the differential pressure between theinterior of the air tight receptacle or chamber and the atmosphere tofacilitate opening a door or other closure through which the carrier maybe removed. y

Usually systems of `this type are 4operated by suction (i. e. a columnof air under a differential of pressureon either side of the carrier,bothpressures'being less than atmospheric)l although it is conceivablethata compressed air vcolumn could be used. In either event,-withsuitable modiiications accordingly,- the present invention mayv bepurposes indicated with satisfactory results. Y ,4

rllhe section of the system in' which the station is installed, may .beconveniently f (though not necessarily) arranged infa horizontalposition, with the carrier outlet rnormally closed but adaptedto beopened by the carrier and to eject the same, as for eX- ample bygravity, and may yor mayk not beself-closing, as later to be explained.The outer air-tight receptacle or chamber may advantageously be providedwith means for breaking the suction and/or equalizing the differentialair pressure therein, thus permitting the door to be openedand thecarrier removed. The return end of the carrier tube may be additionallyequipped with a sending station, thus making a complete apparatus forreceiving and sending carriers which may be fitted intosmall compass,such as the ordinary flat topk desk, or under a counter or table, andthus inconspicuous but convenient for ready use.y

Atypical and representative embodiment ofthe inventionin a deskstructure is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal elevation and section (on line 1%-,-1 of Fig.2) of'a flat top desk with a receiving and sending apparatus Fig. 6 isan eleva-tion of a modiied form of the apparatus installed under `acounter;

Fig. 7 isan end view of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a detail cross-section of the door shown in Figs. 3 or 7;

Fig.. Qyis a longitudinal elevation: of a urp sending station or opening`The section 3 is provided at 7" in the instant case with .a gravityoperated outlet for the carriers, 20

said outlet being arranged in the closed compertinent 4 which has a door8 (Fig 3)j provided `with means `for releasing differential pressurebetween'the: compartment and the outside" atmosphere. f

Variousfdrawers or conipartments 10` may be provided tor the normal" useof the. construction as a desk, and also a central space 11, permittingthe userto sit up closely against.v it in the ordinary manner, while thetop l2`is tree and clear. i

Thev inlet tube '2 is oi" the ordinary construction ot conveyor systemsof `the type described andlias a curve or elbow lconnected by a neck14to the opening 15 in a headerplate 16. Thelatter also has a secondopening 18 to which is connected outlet tube 19 making a Tconnectionwithreturn tube 5 andthe sending or dispatch terminal 6. The latter isVclosed by a tight fitting cover 21 pivoted at 22. Header-plate 16J litsover and 1s hermetically joined tothe end of the receiving chamber 23;which comprises the section 3 of' the tube, and inthe under side ofwhich is the outlet 7" consisting of a wide open-ing 24 'defined -byVlshaped ends 26 and horizontal margins 27. Above fthe latter, at 28,are pivotallly'suspended the coacting" gatesY or doors 29, 30 havingcounterweights 32 (or other means tending to close Vthe gates)` andadapted to* swing upwardly against said :margins 27 and. the `Vshapedends 26, to close the opening 24 and; thus substantially to seal thesameby means ot a softpacking or gasket '31 on the contacting surfaces;`Below the opening 24 an inclined slide 34 slopes downward tothe door 8-which is pivoted at 35 to be swung downwardly by the handle 86; The door8 is rendered airtightiby means-of `a rubber lining or gaskets 37, whichbear firmly against the projecting frames `38. Therest otchamber 4 mayalso V be rendered substantially air-tight by suitable joining of the`wa-llsor other well known means such as packing and the like. In theapparatus as thus constructed and vacuum is employed in the system (i.e. hieh A carrier introduced into the system at a distant point (notshown) obviously tends to travel` inV substantially the same direction`as theeir current therethrough. Accordi ingly, a carrier coming to thestation shown enters in the direction of the arrow, passes through inlettube 2 and thence through opening 15 into the receiving chamber 23. Hereit fallsupon the gates 2S) and 30. Underthe torce of gravity the gatesare caused to swing downwardly, `thus separating and letting' thecarrier tall 'through the terminal" outlet opening 24,"striki'ng uponthe slide 34, and rolling down to the door 8.' The door 8 ymay now beopened andthe carrier removed. ,Wlhen this is done, air is allowed torush in through the open doorway and"- thence through the opening 24into the outletv or return tube 5. This current ot' air drawsthe gates29, 30 back into `closed positionover the opening 24. The door 8 is thenclosed..v Y

It is` to be observedthat, although the gates 29, 30 may be socounterpoised that even with the door 8 open and hence the totaldifference of pressure between the system and outer atmosphere beingexerted thereon, the additional pressure of a carrier will besulii'cient to open them,-such` adjustment must be predicated upon avery low total pressure `differential or an exceedingly nice adjustmentofthe gates 29,30, unless independent.` and; more or less complexmechanismis provided or'this purpose. Onthe other hand, the enclosingchamber 4 is normally under an appreciably reduced pressure by leakageof` air theretrom past the gates y29 and 30 into the system. its aresult, the pressure dillerential between Vthe system and chamber 4 Visnot so great as bty tweenithe system and the outer atmosphere andi hencethe gates may be readily opened bythe impact ot a carrier tl'iereon.llore over,Y this result may be definitely obtained and relied. uponregardlessot how low a diilierential between pressure'of the systen'iand atmospheric pressure) because, -tith spect to the opening of gates29. 30, it is the difference in pressure between the Atube sys-v tem andchamber 4 which `tends to hold the gates 1n closed position and itthisditfer- `entialV is appreciably,reduced the gates are by so much,theimore readily opened by the impact of" a carrier.` Again, under suchnthat after-the exit of a carrier they will tend to close and inthisevent, as such residual differential of pressure as may' existbetween the system and the chamber is equalized, the resulting' rush ofair will more tightly close the gates 29 and 30.

In caseswhere there is high vacuum and appreciable leakage of air intothe dispatch tubes, or in case door 8 is not vopened promptly after acarrier has opened the gates 29, 30, or there has been a considerableperiod between the arrival of two-successive carriers, it may beextreinelydiiiicult to open the door 8. 1 In this event, the atmosphericpressure against the relatively large area of the door 8 Vrepresents anultimate load of'considerable proportions. To ovei'coine this difficultymeans may be pi'ovided asV shown in Fig. 8 in which the door is providedwith a glass panel 4l through which the arrival of a carrier may beobserved while above the panel there is an opening` 42- passingcompletely through the door and covered by a softrubber vplate or gasket43 to the outside of which a haiidle 36 isattached. This rubber plate isheld in position by springs 45, 46, which are attached to its innersurface, extend across the opening 42 and bear against the inner side ofdoor 8. vBy this device, when the chamber 4 is under reduced pressure(or vacuum) the suction upon the door is broken by grasping the handle36 and pulling it forward. This draws the rubber gasket away from theopening 42 and permits air to enter and partially equalize pressureonboth sides of the door, whereupon the door may be readily opened. u yA After a carrier has been received and until the door 8 is opened, .theair current of the systen'ifpasses through the inlet 2, receivingchamber 23, closed chamber 4 and thence to outlet 5 as a continuousclosed circuit. Accordingly the system continues to function regularlyregardless of whether an operator is present to remove the depositedcairier or not. As soon as the rubber plate 43 is released and door 8 isopened, the rush of airinto the system immediately closes the gates 29and 80 in readiness for'further functioning in the manner described.When the carrier has been removed, door 8 is of course again closed bythe operator and-a reduced pressure is again induced in chamber 4 asbefore.

For sending carriers, the cover 21 may be raised and the carrier droppedinto the sending tube Gand the cover closed. Gravity will bringl thecarrier below the connection between the return tube 5 and outlet tube19 before 'closing the cover 21, and it is'then urged forward throughthe system in the usual manner.

A modified form of th apparatus is shown iii Figs. 6 and 7. Thisarrangpmentl includes a cabinet 50 which vmay be locatedy under acounter or table 51, said cabinet having an inlet 2 and outlet 5,' the'outlet'or return having an inclined sending opening 6 projecting`laterally therefrom. g

lThe further modification illustrated by Figs. 9 and l0 includes acabinet l', standing above the topv of the desk :1, in whichvthereceiving and sending tubes `are located, leaving the forward portion ofthe desk top Vl2 unobstructed and free for general use, and

the front part of the desk free to receive drawers 10 or the like,therein. a f

- Y It will be clear from the above disclosure' and the represent-ativeconstruction de scribed, that a construction is thus obtained wherebyair tubes, conveyors, and the'like may be connectedv with a suitablestation or vsta-tions for thejreceiving and sending of carriers, inconjunction withthe customary forms of office furniture withoutiinpairing the normal use of the latten-and'whercbyf the deliveryofcarriers at such vstations may be effected without Vinterrupting thecon. tinuous functioning of the conveyor system, and without requiringthe attention1of an operator. 4

-fIt-is to be understood that such stations may be terminal stationsintended to receive allY of the carriers directed thereto or they Vmaybe set vup in conjunction with selective devices, known to the art,whereby `certain carriers vare delivered through the gates 29 and .30.while certain other carriers arepermitted to pass on, without operatingthe .gates or beingdepositedv at the station, to

another station at some Alater point in the system where it does openthe gatesV and is deposited. l

It is also to be understood that the inven tion is adaptable generallytothe various methods and systems of conveyor appara tus,-though moreespecially those of the air tube type, and that numerousy combinationswithand substitutions ofthe operating parts employed may be .madewithout departing Y.

from thescope 0f the invention herein described. Such adaptations andsubstitutions are to be considered as comprehended by the presentspecification and included by the following claims. l

I claim: f o

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising a piece of usual officefurniture provided with a compartment, a` door normally closing anentrance to said compartment, a pneumatic tube delivery terminalarrangedto deliverv carriers into said compartment, said terminal beingconnected toa pueumatic transmission tube,` and means Within thecompartment nornially closing sa-id'ter'- miiial.

2. Apparatus oi' the class described coinprising a piece or usual oiiicefurniture provided ivith a normally closed compartment,

` a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers intosaid compartment, saidterminal being connected to a pneumatic tube,andvalve `iiiieaiis normally closing said delivery terminal, said valvemeans opening automatically to permit a carrier to pass from `the`terminal into said compartment and closing automatically" in responseto differential pressure between the pneumatic tube and the compartment.

3; A station for a pneumatic carrier system comprising an oiiice desk osubstantially usual typehaving a normally closed compartment, a movableclosure givingaccess to the compartment, a pneumatic tube deliveryterminal arranged `to deliver carriers into said compartment, saidterminal being connected to the transmission tube of the system, andmeans normally closing said=ter ininal, said meansopeningautomaticallyin response-tothe Weight or a cari'ier'so as to`permit the carrier to enter the compartment.

4:. A station 'for a pneumatic carrier system comprising a piece ofusual oiiice turni ture provided with a normally closed chain ber of asize sut'licient tohold a plurality of carriers, a pneumatic tubedelivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into said chami bei',said terminal being connected to a transmission tube otthesystem, meansnormally closing the delivery terminal, and means `permitting removal ofcarriers romthe chamber. i p

5. A station for a pneumatic tube system comprising a delivery terminalhaving an outlet, gravity actuated means normally closing theoutlet,means providing a. chainf i i bersuirounding and enclosing said deliveryterminal outlet, said chamber beingV oi. a size suilicient to hold aplurality or carriers, and

a door opening from said chamber to the` outer atmosphere, said doornormally re- .i'naining closed to retain the carriers Within thechamber. Y v

`6. Apparatus oit the class described comprising a piece of usual oicefurniture pro- A Vvided With-a substantially air-tight cornpartment, a4door normally closing an entrance to said compartment, a pneumatic tubedelivery terminal having an outlet arranged to deliver kcarriers intosaid coinpartment, said terminal being attached to a pneumatictransmission tube, and valvej means normally closing the terminaloutlet. l `7. A station for a pneumatic tube system having atransmission tube, said station comprising a delivery terminal 'for' thetubehaving a downwardly directed outlet, a: pair of gates cooperatingsubstantially to close theoutlet, said gates normallybeing closedV butopening in response to the `Weight oft a carrier resting thereon, meansproviding an air-tight chamber enclosing the outlet to said terminal,said chamber being ot a size`su'lticient toliold a plurality ofcarriers, adoor in the Wall oit the chamber, said door-nor mally beingheld closed by vdifferential air pressures, and inanuallyactuable meansfor air tight andnormallysealed against the `entrance of atii'iospliericpressure, and a nanually actuable valve tor breaking Vthe seal to permitairfat atmospheric pressure to enter the chamber. ,i 9. A receivingstation -for pneumatic carrier systems, comprising afpneumatic tube,a

carrier outlet `in a section' of the tube, a-

closed chamber surrounding and enclosing said outlet, adoor in ythechamber, means providing a hermetic seal to the chamber, a

displaceable `member in the door, and a hans` die 'attached thereto fordisplacingV said member, and` for breaking the `act of opening the door.

10. Apparatus of the class describedcomprising a piece offiirnitureotsubstantially usual `external appearance having a normally closed andsubstantially air-tight comseall, in` the partment therein, a movableclosure giving access to such compartment', a pneumatic dispatch tubedelivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, anda combined closure opener and relief. valve for admittingatmosphericpressure to said compartment prior to opening the closure.

ll. A station for a pneumatic tube system having a transmissionitub .anda delivery terminal provided With` an outlet, said station having agatecounterpoised so as vnormally substantially to close said outlet, meansproviding a` substantially air-tight chamber enclosing `the outlet,` anormally closed door giving access to the chamber from theexterionavalve for equalizing the ditlerence in pressure at the opposite sides ofsaid door, and a handle for the door, said handle being connected to thevalve for actuating tlie latter. i, i

12. Apparatus of the class described cour prising a desk having af'topand a substantially air-tight compartment below said top, a doornormally closing an entrance to said compartment, a cabinet mounted`upon the desir, said cabinet having a chamber therein constitutingL"rcontinuation of thel compartment in the desk, a` pneumatic tubedelivery lll) terminal having its outlet disposed within said cabinet,said terminal being connected to a pneumatic transmission tube, andmeans normally closing the terminal outlet, said outlet closing meansopeningy automatically to permit a carrier to pass from the transmissiontube into said chamber. n 13. A station' 'or a pneumatic dispatcl systemhaving a transmission tube, said station comprising a piece of usualotce turniture provided with a compartment, a movable closure normallyclosing an access opening in the wall of said compartment, and apneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into saidcompartment,

said terminal being connected with thetransmission tube. n

14. ln combination with a piece of customary ofiice furniture such as adesk, a portion of a pneumatic'carrier system directed therethrough, a.carrier outlet from the system, means comprising a compartment in i saiddesk enclosing said outlet, and means normally closing the carrieroutlet.

15. In combination kwith a piece of customary olice furniture suoli as adesk, a portion of a pneumatic carrier system directed therethrough, kacarrier outlet from the system, means comprising a 'compartment in saiddesk enclosing said outlet, and means normally closing the carrieroutlet but opening under tlieimpact ofV a carrier v thereagainst.

16. In combination with a piece of customary ollice furniture such as adesk, a portion of a. pneumatic carrier system-di rected therethrough, acarrier outlet from the system, means comprising an air-tightcompartment in said desk enclosing said out. let, and'means normallyclosing the carrier outlet but permitting a slight by-pass of airtherethrough. f

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising an ollice desk ofsubstantially usual type, a pneumatic tube dispatch terminal supportedby the desk, the desk having withn in it a chamber' of a size sufficientto hold a pluralit of pneumatic carriers, a pneumatic tube de iveryterminal arranged to deliver carriers into said chamber, and a normallyclosed door giving access to said chamber.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising an oihce desk having atop, drawers below the top, a compartment below the top,

said compartment being of sulcient capacity i to hold a plurality ofcarriers, a pneumatic tube dispatch terminal carried by the deskstructure, the. receiving end oi-said terminal Vbeing abovetlie top ofthe desk and within convenient reach of a person seated at the desk, apneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into saidcompartment, and a normally closed door giving access to thecompartment.

19. Apparatus ot' the class described comprising an office desk having atop and a partprovided with a substantially air tight com artment forreceiving and trinnoraril retaining carriers, a pneumatic tube dispatchterminal built into the structure of the desk, said terminal projectingup throughV the desk top and having'its receiving end `disposed justabove the level of the desk top,

that carriers arriving therethrough discharge 'freely intov saidcompartment.

2l. Apparatus ot the classdescribed comthe top, said compartment havinga normall closed hinged door, and `a pneumatic tube delivery terminalarranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, saidv terminal beingprovided with a normally closed gate prising an oirce-desk having atopand a compartment at one side of the desk beneath at its delivery end,said gate opening when engaged' by a carrier to permit the carrier. l

to drop into said compartment.

22. `Apparatus of the class described comprising an oliice desk having atop and a compartment provided with a normally closed hinged door, apneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into thecompartment, and a deflector within the compartment for directingcarriers arriving through the terminal into the forward part ot saidcompartment adjacent to the door, said door being within' convenientreach ot' a person seated at the desk.

Signed by me at Syracuse, New York this twenty-first day of May 1926. l

JAMES T. COWLEY.

